Choosing what to wear to a formal event is a mean feat at the best of times, but it is only made more stressful when you are uncertain as to what your “formal” dress code actually entails. Depending on the event, location, and the hosts, “formal” can mean an entire range of things, all contrasting one another, which all can be incredibly confusing if you don’t know your hosts very well or don’t attend many formal gatherings or parties. Is it a black-tie event? Is cocktail wear appropriate? What even is a white-tie event? And how do all of these things affect what a lady can wear? The last thing you want to do is turn up underdressed, but what if you go all out and everyone else is dressed more casually? Fear not, as long as you follow these tips, you will always look your best at any formal event you attend in the future.
Fluted Floor Length Sequin Bridesmaid Dress
Consider The Location
The location of your formal event can greatly affect how you dress, regardless of the dress code, so it’s something that you must take into consideration when picking your outfit. If the event is being hosted inside, in a hall or a ballroom, then a strapless dress and heels is a sensible option. However, if it’s being hosted outside then this would not be a practical suggestion. A shawl or jacket might be required outside, to keep you from getting too cold. As well as this, you may want to choose a shoe with a thicker, lower, or no heel, to avoid you tripping on anything outside, or having your heels sink into the grass, if a grassy area is where the event is being hosted. Despite this, a sensible shoe is always a sensible suggestion, as you don’t want to have to be sat down half the evening because your feet are simply too sore for you to stand up.
Consider The Invitation
It may sound a little silly, but the medium in which your invitation arrived can often tell you a lot more about what you should wear than the invitation does itself. If you were added into a group on Facebook, then I think it’s relatively safe to say that, while you should still look dressed up for the event you are attending, it’s not one that requires you to bring out your best ball gown and pearls. On the other hand, if your invitation came via the post on a piece of thick, gold embossed card, then you perhaps should consider investing in a fancy floor length number.
Blush Pink Floral Guest List
Get Hold Of The Guestlist
Having the list of guests to hand is incredibly useful for a number of reasons. Firstly, it provides you with a range of different people with whom you can discuss their interpretation of the ambiguous dress code. As well as this, you can also discuss what each other are wearing to ensure that you don’t turn up to the affair wearing the exact same thing as someone else.
Stick To The Basics
Regardless of the type of formal event, there are always some things that you tend to be able to get away with. One such example is a cocktail dress – Cocktail dresses are shorter and a little funkier than your traditional, full-length evening gown, and are often cheaper too, which is incredibly helpful if you’re a little strapped for cash on the run up to the party. You tend to be able to get away with a cocktail dress at weddings, or any time of “drinks party” taking place in the early evening. There are certain makeup basics that you can get away with too, such as a classic smoky eye. Many eye shadow palettes, such as the Billy B x Gallany Essentials Palette from Gallany Cosmetics, contain all the colors you need for a knockout eye makeup look. Coupling this with some liquid eyeliner, and a volumizing mascara will provide a classic, elegant makeup look.
Suit Up And Stand Out
It’s true what they say, it is always better to be overdressed than underdressed, so if you really don’t know what the dress code entails then go all out -There are worse things than being remembered as the best-dressed guest. There are many different ways to make yourself stand out, one popular example is wearing a tailored suit and some sassy stilettos. Women wearing suits might not necessarily be appropriate for all formal events, but if the invitation states “Black Tie Event”, then why should it only be men that have right to wear one?
Keep Things In Balance
You have to remember when dressing up for a formal event not to make your appearance too overwhelming; Otherwise, you may end up missing the elegant, and classy part of the dress code. If you’re going for a bold eye look, have a more subtle lip color, and vise versa. If you’re wearing a lot of sparkly statement jewelry, ensure you wear a relatively plain dress. If you decide on a lovely sequined number, make sure to keep it floor length, to avoid looking like you’re dressed for a night out on the town.
Just Ask The Host
If all of this fails to provide you with any guidance, and you are still scratching your head a few days before the event, struggling to decide what to wear, it’s always best to simply ask the host. Trust me; They will appreciate you asking for their help and voicing your confusion a lot more than they would turning up to an event they’d put a lot of effort in, with all of their guests looking nothing like how they’d envisioned.
Hopefully, this advice has given you some inspiration as to what you would like to wear to your next formal event. Just remember that it doesn’t matter how much highlight or how many sparkly brooches you put on, if you don’t feel comfortable and confident in what you’re wearing, then you’re never going to look right. No matter what you decide to wear, ensure you wear it loud and proud, because confidence is your best feature, and is what will make your night as fun as you are hoping.
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